What I'm Watching: Night at the Museum 3

When we heard that Robin Williams had passed away, my house went into some heavy mourning. Aaron and I both loved Robin Williams. No joke, I wore black for two weeks. The deaths of celebrities always hits me pretty square in the stomach, I'm so in love with everything film, television and theatre that I feel like part of myself dies when someone I love as much as I loved Robin Williams leaves out, especially when they leave out too soon.

So we were a little hesitant to watch the new Night at the Museum movie. We were afraid we would just want to cry through the whole thing, seeing Robin as the much loved Teddy Roosevelt wax figure. And so we didn't go wait in line to see it in the theatre, as we did with both of the previous NATM films. And when we saw it was on Amazon to rent, we kind of let it lay for a while.

Sunday afternoon, however, we were spending a very leisurely day at home after church -and the SEC Champsionship Game (GO CATS!!!!) - and we decided that, since my Mom was hanging with us, we would rent Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb from Amazon and see if we could survive it.

(This rental was a $4.99 - 48 hr rental.)

The thing I love about the NATM movies is how creative they are, and how they just feed the heck out of my imagination. I mean, I would move in to a museum that did that and just sit and talk to the figures. I would annoy the crap out of them, learning more than I ever thought I could. I'm a history nut, so that plays into my love of these movies too. The first one, I mean, it was incredible. Everyone knows that. The second one... there was sooo much going on, there were so many new characters.... and while it was good, while Amy Adams did a great Amelia Earhart, Hank Azaria was hilarious as Kah-mun-Rah, and we did have a little eye candy by way of Jon Bernthanl (Shane from The Walking Dead) as young Al Capone, it wasn't quite as good as the first one, IMO. It was just too much.

So I was almost ready when the opening started playing to be just a teench more disappointed.


Nope.

Not at all.

Before I begin.... I think it's safe to say, if you've been following my WIW's that there are SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Larry Daley is in charge of what is called the "night program" at the museum and has arranged a somewhat spectacular fundraiser type dinner which included appearances from the usual exhibits and from the limited time planetarium exhibit. Just as he's getting everyone lined out for the performance Ahkmenrah comes to him and says that there is something wrong with the magical golden tablet. You know, the magical golden tablet. The one that is responsible for all the museum coming alive every night.... It's beginning to corrode, and turn green with some sort of rust.

But the show must go on.  Teddy rides into the main room, filled with tables of wealthy patrons and everyones favorite museum coordinator Dr. McPhee - once again played by Ricky Gervais. Teddy introduces himself, gives an extremely brief history of the museum and talks about the stars... and then he introduces us to the constellations. They come streaming in, alive, and beautiful...

It's magic, and I knew from that moment I would love this movie.

But then something goes wrong. The tablet grows a little bit more decayed and it throws the entire exhibit haywire. Dexter the Money jumps on Larry's face, Jed and Octavius start tripping the horrified party goers. Teddy appears to have a short in his operating system, sparking different reactions, fast motion talking, slow motion talking, repetitive saluting... he even holds Larry at gunpoint and heartbreakingly says "I don't know you."

After the mess is cleaned up, Larry goes home to find Nick (his son, played in this movie by Skyler Gisondo), a soon to be High School graduate, having a party and learns that he wants to forego college to become a DJ. Oh my. The next day, he decides to do some research on the tablet, gets some great advice from Cecil, the original guard from the first movie played by the adorable Dick Van Dyke (and an appearance by another dearly departed treasure: Mickey Rooney) and pretty much forces the newly fired Dr. McPhee to arrange transferring Ahkmenrah to the British Musuem in London.


Enter Rebel Wilson as the guard at the museum. She does what she does best, making you laugh and shake your head all at the same time. Anyway, Larry and Nick sneak in after the "transfer" is complete and are surprised when they discover that instead of just Ahky (as I like to call him) being in London, Teddy has come, Sacajawea tagged along, Atilla couldn't leave it alone and of course Jed and Octavius came. Oh yes... and Dexter, can't forget Dexter. Aaaaand then there's the new Neanderthal... La, an exact copy of Larry. One of Dr. McPhee's little jests. He calls Larry "Dada." He's so funny!!

So the deal here is, Ahkmenrah and Larry need to get the tablet to Ahky's father (Sir Ben Freaking Kingsley!) so that he can tell them how to fix this problem. And the "Egypt" exhibit is deep inside the museum, and they have to get there before the tablet completely corrodes, otherwise it's the end for everyone.

Along the way, they lose Jed and Octavius. Of course. And on their sidetrack quest to find them, they encounter the super dreamy Sir Lancelot played by Dan Stevens (Matthew from Downton Abbey). He made us laugh SO HARD when he started talking.... He's just too funny. Watching him with long hair and a beard made me get even more excited for Beauty and the Beast!!!



As with any NATM movie you have your funny moments and your more serious moments. Like when Lancelot tries to take the tablet for himself, thinking it's the Holy Grail or some such relic, becoming the bad guy instead of the cute knight in shining armor. And then your right back to funny when he finds a London production of Camelot starring Hugh Jackman (who he keeps calling "Huge Ackman") and once again right back to serious when he starts losing it and throwing things into the audience, causing the tablet to corrode just a little bit more.

The lady guard and La!!! HAHAHAHA! Just watch! It's too funny!!

In the end, the New York exhibits tell Larry that they feel like Ahky and the tablet should stay in London, so that he can be with his family. There is just enough time to get back to New York while everyone from there is still awake....



I didn't find much that I disliked about this film... and there was honestly nothing that I disliked so much as to even tell you about. All in all I loved it.

And of course, I did cry, just a little bit, when Teddy said goodbye. Cause this time... for real, in real life, it was forever.


But what is a NATM without a dance party at the end!?!? We get one, and it's HILARIOUS!



If you were on the fence about watching this movie, like we were, don't be, it's funny, and definitely a perfect way to end this series. It's sad, so so so sad, watching Robin Williams' last performance, but he does it so well, and Teddy is one of his characters that, like Genie from Aladdin, will be with me forever. It spoke to my imagination and I'll forever be grateful for that.

It was SOOO worth the $5.17 (with tax) that I spent to rent this movie and I FOR SURE will be buying it on DVD to add to our collection.


This movie has all your favorites in it, has a few new faces, and in the end, when the credits roll, you will smile and say "That was a good movie."

Tips to Keep a Clean House: How I Get Motivated

Ok, so here's the thing about being a stay at home wife. There are times when you just flat don't want to get out of your pajamas and away from Netflix long enough to sweep your floors. And being "your own boss," in a way, you can. Your house may look like the H bomb went off around you, blankets and pillows tossed about and take out wrappers everywhere, half empty glasses of water, coke, tea, Kleenex strewn from one end of the couch to another from watching Steel Magnolias for the 987 billionth time.  So what do you do?? How do you pull yourself away from reruns of Grey's Anatomy long enough to get your house in decent looking order? (Once I start with Grey's I get stuck, especially after Owen showed up. He's my fave. I've been a Kevin McKidd fan since I was 9!)

Here's my tip. Do a good ol' 15 Minute Before Bed Pick Up and go to bed.....

THEN... here's what I do the next morning... There are some days when I get a TON of cleaning done in my pjs. I can tackle those around the house projects and get totally caught up on laundry and the dishes and shampoo the carpets and mop and all that while I'm still in my pjs some days, but on the days when I feel the pull towards the bed and Netflix....

• I leave the TV OFF. It's a distraction. Trying to find something just to "have on" while you're cleaning can sometimes take a good 30 minutes, especially if you're like me and you've seen practically everything.... So instead I turn on Pandora radio. We have a Sony Blu Ray player that has the Pandora app on it, so I'll turn the TV on, but play music through it. I usually pick something like MoTown or anything upbeat. MoTown dance breaks in the kitchen are perfectly acceptable, and occur on a regular basis at my house.
• I have a little breakfast, always something with some protein in it. I love scrambles, just fyi. 
• And then I shower, put on makeup and do my hair. That's my secret. I find that I am TONS more motivated to get everything done if I look good, and not ratty in my pjs. I won't go all out and do winged eyeliner, red lips and curled hair, but I'll put on some foundation, blush, eyeshadow and mascara and I'll at least wash my hair, whether I style it or not is another thing all together. I am ALWAYS more productive if I feel better about myself, and makeup and hair accomplishes that for me.  Plus, if I need to quickly run out of the house for anything, I'm already ready. If I want a time out for lunch, I can run through the drive thru and not scare the little fella at the first window plum out of hit wits. 

And that's it. THAT's my secret. Hair and makeup. You know, them Gypsy Housewives may be onto something. Seriously, I mean they clean their houses wearing high heels and hoop earrings. For reals. (I'm so addicted to Gypsy Sisters  and My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding it's not even funny!) 

Also, another thing is that I really LOVE having a clean house and I love having it neat and tidy for my hubby when he comes home. I like the house to smell like Pine Sol (he says it smells like Christmas, and therefore loves it) and to have supper on the stove, and me not looking like a cave monster for him when he comes in from a long day at the office. The reward is always the evening off to be with my honey. There are some nights that if I've been cleaning particularly hard that day I'll make supper and spend the evening with Aaron and then when he goes to bed, I'll shut the bedroom door, turn off all the lights and watch a movie, just me. I love foreign movies or romantic dramas that I've never seen before for my solo movie nights. 

It may seem absolutely pointless to you. And some days I am like WHY would I shower and do my hair and makeup just so I can get hot and sweaty and gross, but other days I need that extra push. You are more productive when you feel good about yourself I find. 

So what do YOU do to get motivated to do your household chores? Leave me a comment and let me know!

I think it goes without saying, hopefully, that Pandora Radio did not perk me to mention them, MoTown doesn't know that I love their oldies, and the Gypsy Sisters don't know me. And sadly, Kevin McKidd doesn't know me either. :(